By Helen Ovbiagele, Woman Editor

I join millions of his well-wishers from across the country and the globe,  in wishing President Jonathan God’s blessings  as he begins soon, his four years as president of Nigeria.  He won overwhelmingly because he worked hard to convince many Nigerians that he’s the best candidate at this point in time.

According to news reports, many citizens voted for him as a person, and not for his political party.  Now this is very humbling, and it is a great responsibility, as the whole world is watching him to see what he’ll do with this success that God has allowed him.

Mr. President should have this at the back of his mind every day of his term in office, so that he would remember to fulfil his elections promises, and not let the nation and himself down.

Luckily, news have it that he has promised to do just one term of four years.  This is good, for it means that when he hits the ground running as he starts this race, he will not have the time to waste in plotting for another term, as is usually the case with our politicians.  There should be no room for such costly distraction.

Without that encumbrance, he will swing into action at once, to ensure that he leaves Nigeria a better place in 2015, than it is at present.  We want action!  We want good performance!  We want visible development all over the nation, not merely in those parts that voted overwhelmingly for the president/his party.  He’s father of the entire nation, and he should demonstrate that he is.

He has been part of the presidency for four years already, so, he cannot say that he doesn’t know what the problems are.  I’m sure that he’s so aware of them that if you wake him up in the middle of the night to ask him, he would be able to say what they are, without any hesitation.  A quick run-through – steady and good supply of electricity, rehabilitation of roads,  particularly the major ones linking the states; good and affordable health care; effective mode of transportation; good water supply; effective security of lives and property; qualitative and affordable  education; job creation; regular payment of pensioners’ salaries, clean environment, etc.

I understand that when he was on retreat at the Obudu ranch recently, the president was inundated with visits from those lobbying for a piece of the action in his government.  It is commendable that people from other political parties, and non politicians as well, are involved in this too, for, after all, he’s president of the whole nation, not just of his political party, but he has to be careful not to cave in to pressure and sentiment.

It appears the president believes in the efficacy of prayers, so, I would suggest that he prayerfully chooses his ministers, his advisers, etc., so that those who would rubbish his government and help pull it down would not find their way into his administration.

This is because, the head, in this case the president, takes the blame when things go awry and there’s a huge lack of good performance.  His name would be mud forever, and all the good things he had done previously which earned him his elections victory, would be forgotten.  It is normal for bad things to get more notice and publicity than good things.

He is not going to implement his policies all by himself, but through his ministers, advisers, permanent secretaries, directors, etc.  If these people are corrupt, cheats and embezzler of public funds, his projects may not be executed, or if they are, it would be partially or shoddily executed.

It is impossible for the president to know the real character of all those lobbying him for appointments, so, he should have close transparently honest aides who can help him with this.

I understand the need for party members who worked hard at the elections or who lost, to be compensated with positions.  There’s no harm in this, but square pegs should not be put in round holes because they just won’t fit in, and there would be confusion, conflicts with staff, and gross non-performance.

As much as possible, efficient professionals with integrity, who have proved their mettle in their trade, should be appointed ministers; not people with no idea of what the ministry they’re appointed to head, stands for.  We don’t want people in starched outfits and with briefcases, whose main duty/interest in their ministry is to go share out contracts.

The nation is sick and tired of such non-performers who are sacred cows because they have a political godfather/godmother somewhere, who must be obeyed and kept happy.

Someone told me that in most cases, contracts are given out to party members so that they can get the money to donate into the party coffers, and that state/local governments are expected to do the same.  If this is true, I think it’s about time to call a halt to such unholy practices, because whatever money involved is public money, not personal money.

Political parties shouldn’t use money meant for development in the country, to line their own pockets.  They should be contented with what the central government gives them at elections, and also from donations by party members and well-wishers.  Maybe it’s time we peg the donations that the individual political party can get from the public.

By and large, I think we have a president who has the interests of the nation at heart and can perform well if all those around him will put the nation first before their own personal interests.